Chiloxanthus

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Clade: Pancrustacea
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Hemiptera
• Suborder: Heteroptera
• Family: Saldidae (shore bugs)
• Subfamily: Chiloxanthinae
• Genus: Chiloxanthus Reuter, 1891

Overview
Chiloxanthus is a genus of shore bugs belonging to the family Saldidae. Members of this genus are small, predatory insects that inhabit moist shoreline habitats such as riverbanks, lakeshores, and coastal margins. They are adapted for rapid movement on sand or mud surfaces and typically prey on other small arthropods.

Species diversity
Approximately nine species have been described within the genus Chiloxanthus:

1. Chiloxanthus alticola Kiritshenko, 1931
2. Chiloxanthus arcticus (Sahlberg, 1878)
3. Chiloxanthus corporaali Lindberg, 1935
4. Chiloxanthus kozlovi (Kiritshenko, 1912)
5. Chiloxanthus lama (Kiritshenko, 1912)
6. Chiloxanthus pilosus (Fallén, 1807)
7. Chiloxanthus poloi (Kiritshenko, 1912)
8. Chiloxanthus sangchana Drake, 1954
9. Chiloxanthus stellatus (Curtis, 1835)

Distribution and ecology
Species of Chiloxanthus are primarily found in the Palearctic region, with some extending into Arctic and sub‑Arctic zones. They occupy a niche as surface-dwelling predators on moist substrates, where they hunt smaller insects and other arthropods.

Scientific references

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). “Chiloxanthus Report.” Retrieved 24 September 2019.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). “Chiloxanthus.” Retrieved 24 September 2019.
• BugGuide.net. “Chiloxanthus genus information.” Retrieved 24 September 2019.

Key literature

• Schuh, R. T.; Galil, B.; Polhemus, J. T. (1987). Catalog and bibliography of Leptopodomorpha (Heteroptera). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 185: 243–406.
• Aukema, B.; Rieger, C., eds. (1995). Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region, Vol. 1. The Netherlands Entomological Society. ISBN 978‑90‑71912‑12‑2.